Method and machine for automatically relocating spinning frame travelers



Dec. 15, 1970 R. A. scHEwE ET AL 3,546,870

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY RELOCATING SPINNING FRAME TRAVELERS Filed Feb. 13, 1987 7 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 15,1970 f R, A, SCHEWE ETAL 3,546,870

METHOD AND MACHINE yFOR AUTOMATICALLY RELOCATING `SPINNING FRAME TRAVELERS Filed Feb. 13, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. A. SCHEWE ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY RELOCATING Dec. 15,1970

SPINNING FRAME TRAVELERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. l5, 1967 Dec. l5, 1970 v R. A, sCHEwE ET AL 3,546,870

v METHOD AND MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY RELOCATING SPINNING FRAME TRAVELERS Filed Feb. 15, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z4@ 7M@ www DCC. 15,1970 R, A, SCHEWE ETAL 3,546,870

. METHOD AND MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY RELOCATING SPINNING FRAME TRAVELERS Filed Feb. 1E, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Il, l

Dec. 15, 197() R, Ae SCHEWE ET AL v 3,546,870

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY RELOGATING SPINNING FRAME TRAVELERS Filed Feb. l5, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ffl 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Dec. l5, 1970 R, A, sHEwE ETAL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY RELOCATING SPINNING FRAME TRAVELERS Filed-Feb. 13, 1967 M. 38% .IIIJ N .BSG

nited States ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Mechanism on a traveling head propelled continuously along a filled spinning frame 11 operates on each successive bobbin 12 and the unwound thread 13 thereof to shift each traveler 14 around its supporting ring 15 and stop the same in a predetermined position x (FIG. 2) ahead of the bobbin and its spindle 16.

BACKGROUND This invention is especially useful in preparing the spinning units of a filled spinning frame for the automatic doiing of the bobbins successively by mechanism on a head that travels along the frame. Heretofore provision has been made in such traveling doffers for relocating only on those travelers 14 which have stopped within limited arcs of their supporting rings 15.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention involves the provision on a head 10, which is movable continuously along a spinning frame 11, of a mechanism which in passing each successive spinning unit operates to shift the traveler 14 thereof around its supporting ring 15 and stop the travelers of all of the units along the frame in identical positions x (FIGS. 2 and 8) ahead of the respective bobbins 12 and spindles 16. Such repositioning is effected by turning each successive bobbin and spindle to swing the unwound thread 13 and traveler thereof around the traveler ring 15 and against a stop 17 which is mounted on the traveling head 10 for a movement transversely and relative thereto into and out of active position (FIGS. 7 and 8) with respect to each successive spinning unit.

Herein the unwound threads 13 of all of the bobbins are conditioned uniformly for accurate positioning of all of the threads between the travelers and their bobbins in spite of the Widely varying different positions and conditions in which these threads and travelers are left after completion of a spinning operation. First, each unwound thread between its traveler and thread eye 18 is separated (FIGS. 5 and 6) from the main thread mass 19 after which the bobbin is turned (FIG. 6) in a direction to unwind some thread from the base bunch 21. Then, the bobbin is turned reversely (FIG. 7) causing the thread to swing the traveler around its ring 15 until the positioning stop 17 is encountered (FIG. 8). Shortly thereafter the turning of the bobbin is interrupted to avoid any danger of breaking the thread.

A plurality of the stops 17 are spaced along and project laterally from an elongated endless carrier 22 mounted on the traveling head for movement relative thereto and extending along the row of spindles. The stops spaced according to the pitch of the frame spindles, travel relative to the head 10- reversely of and at the same speed as the head advance along the spinning frame.

In traveling around the leading end of the carrier loop, each stop is moved into operative association with one spinning unit and remains in active stopping position (FIGS. 7 and 8) until reaching the other end of the loop when it is moved outwardly and away from arent the bobbin thread and traveler (FIG. 9) after the latter has been repositioned.

Other objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentary end view of a conventional spinning frame equipped with a traveler positioning mechanism embodying the novel features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of parts of the spinning frame and the principal operating parts of the improved traveler positioning mechanism, the supporting parts being shown in dot-dash outline.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the traveler positioning mechanism as viewed along the line 3 3 of FIG. l, parts of the spinning frame being shown in dot-dash outline.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 4 4- of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 through 9 are fragmentary perspective views showing different positions of the operating parts in the course of conditioning a bobbin thread and positioning the traveler thereof in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line 10--10 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary perspective view of a traveler positioning stop and its mounting.

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modiiied form of the mechanism for positioning the traveler stops.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modilied form of traveler stop.

FIG. 14 is a time chart on which the motions of the various parts involving the present invention are indicated by reference numerals combined with the letter c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Spinning frame modiiication In the form shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is especially adapted for use in connection with preparing a filled spinning frame for automatic dolfing and donning by a system such as that forming the subject matter of an application Ser. No. 593,536, filed Nov. 10, 1966 by Richard D. Livingston. In that system, a traveling head 10 is driven along a row of bobbins of a conventional spinning frame and operates on each spinning unit to doi the filled bobbin 12 from the spindle as indicated at 12a FIG. 2), lay the supply thread 13 around the base of the spindle, and don a replacement bobbin 23 onto the spindle so as to recouple the thread to the spindle.

In a conventional frame for Z-twist bobbins, the bobbins are coupled frictionally to the spindles, either at the tip or base thereof and are driven clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 by belts 24 extending around whorls 25 on the lower ends of the spindles which are journaled in bearings 26 on the bed-rail 27 (FIG. 1). For S-twist bobbins the winding is in the opposite direction. During the spinning of thread, roving 28 is led downwardly from spools 29 through drafting rolls 31, spun into the supply thread 13 and wound onto the bobbins. After completion of the spinning, each thread extends down through a lthread eye 18 alined with and disposed immediately above t-he nose of the bobbin and through the traveler 14 and inwardly and horizontally to the so-called base bunch 21 which includes a plurality of turns of the spun thread wound around the bobbin base (FIG. 5). Each traveler straddles its supporting ring 15 which is fixed to and projects above the rail 34, the traveler being free to move easily around the ring during rotation of the bobbin in the clockwise or winding direction. After a spinning operation is interrupted and the drafting or delivery rolls 31 stopped, the supply thread is held effectua'lly by the rolls against movement downwardly through the thread eye. This characteristic is utilized in carrying out the invention as will appear later.

To adapt a conventional frame for use with the present invention, a rack bar 3S is secured to the front of and extends along the full length of the bed-rail 27 for proper meshing with a power driven pinion 36 on the traveling head 10. The pinion is fast on the end of a shaft 37 journaled in bearings 38 spaced crosswise of the head and coupled through gearing 39 and a sliding coupling 41 to a shaft 42 upstanding from a box v43 containing gearing driven by a motor 44 through a belt 45. The gearing and the pinion are constructed to synchronize the advance of the head precisely with the pitch of the spindles along the frame. When the spindle pitch is the conventional 3.5 inches, the pinion may be formed with fourteen teeth of .25 of an inch pitch, so that the head 10 is advanced precisely through a distance equal to the pitch of the spindles 16 during one revolution of the pinion.

Also, levers or soecalled lappets 46 carrying the conventional thread eyes 18 are swingable individually and at proper times between the positions shown in FIG. 2, this being accomplished by cams (not shown) on the head 10. Each lever is formed beyond the eye proper with an extension 47 Which projects outwardly and horizontally in the normal operative position of the eye shown in FIGS. to 8.

Suitable means such as a notch 4-8 (FIG. 3) fixed to an upright ange 54 of the bed-rail 27 is adapted for precise alinement with a part 49 on the head 10 to enable the latter to be located along the spinning frame in a precise position relative to the spindle supporting the first bobbin to be doffed and therefore with all of the other bobbins and spindles along the frame.

Mounting of traveling head and coupling to spinning frame To support the traveling head and enable the drive pinion 36 thereon to be brought into mesh with the rack 35 after alinement of the projection 49 and the notch `48, the head is mounted for vertical adjustment on a carriage 51 supported by oor engaging wheels 52. Herein, this mounting includes two pairs of horizontal rollers 53 (FIGS. 1 and 3) journaled on and spaced along the head and straddling the upright flange 54 on the bed-rail at the front of the frame. The major weight of the floating head is sustained by the rail through the medium of rollers 55 projecting horizontally from arms on the -head and spaced along the latter while riding the upper edge of the rail. The overhanging weight of the head is sustained by the rail through an upright roller 56 (FIG. l) journaled on an arm 57 depending from the head and bearing against the outer face of a flange at the lower edge of the bed-rail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head 10 is guided for vertical sliding relative to the carriage 51 by a roller S8 riding in a slot in an upright part on the carriage and also by a rod 59 (FIG. l) depending from the head and loosely slidable in a bearing 61 on the carriage. Raising and lowering of the head relative to the carriage is effected by selective energization of a reversible electric motor `62 (FIG. l) mounted on the carriage with its shaft coupled to an upright screw 63 threaded through a fixed nut and engageable at its upper end with the bottom of the head.

Mounting of thread positioning mechanism Most of the operating parts involving the present invention are mounted on a multi-part bracket 64 (FIGS. 1 and 3) clamped by screws 65 against the traveling head 10 adjacent and in front of the bobbins on the frame. Herein the bracket includes vertically spaced horizontal Conditioning spinning units for traveler positioning We have discovered that t-he invariable relocation of each and every one of the travelers 14 along the spinning frame in identical positions x around their supporting rings 15 as contemplated by the present invention, requires manipulation of the unwound threads 13 between the drafting rolls 31 and the travelers so as to prepare the different spinning units uniformly for proper response of their travelers to turning of the bobbins to effect the desired traveler repositioning. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, such preconditioning of the threads is effected in two steps in the approach of the traveler positioning mechanism to each successive unit and more particularly by first separating the unwound thread from the wound mass 19 of each bobbin and then rotatingthe bobbin to unwind a short length, preferably about one half of a turn, of thread off from the base bunch 21 and thus increase the working length of the thread and leave the same shaped and positioned as shown in FIG. 6.

Separation of unwound thread from bobbin The holding of the thread by the drafting rolls coupled with the advance of the head is utilized in separating the unwound thread from the mass 19. Herein this is accomplished by a finger `69 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) projecting toward the frame from the leading end of the bracket 64 and positioned to engage t-he threads 13 above the noses of the successive bobbins and carry such threads forwardly with the traveling head 10 ahead or to the left of the thread mass of the associated bobbin. The finger is rigid with and projects from a ring 71 journaled on a stud 72 upstanding from a lug 73 on the bracket bar 67 and urged counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6 by a torsion spring 74 to a normal position against a stop 75 as shown in full in FIG. 5. 4In this position, the finger is inclined forwardly from its pivot so as to trap and hold the engaged thread. Initially, each thread engages a guide 76 rigid with the finger and extending along and inclined away from the finger from a point near the end of the finger. The finger and the guide are disposed at a level just below the thread eyes 18 and, when in normal position against the stop, engage each successive thread after the finger has passed the nose of the bobbin. At this time, the thread extends upwardly from the traveler 14 as shown by the dot-dash line in FIG. 5 and may, depending on the traveler position, extend around and be in contact with the mass 19 around arcs thereof of different lengths.

In the advance of the head after such engagement, the unwound thread between the traveler and thread eye is bent forwardly as shown in full in FIG. 5 and is thus separated from the main mass thus eliminating any overlapping or other conditions which might interfere with the ensuing partial unwinding of base bunch by turning the bobbin. In the course of such separation, any slack in the unwound thread is taken up by the spring 74 which is light enough to allow the finger to yield reversely and swing clockwise after the thread has become taut. This avoids any danger of breaking the thread then held by the drafting rolls.

The unwound thread thus separated and drawn forwardly from its bobbin, as shown in full in FIG. `6, is eventually released from the finger when a pin 77 rigid ywith and upstanding from the finger intermdeiate the ends thereof engages the extension 47 of the thread eye of the next spinning unit. In the advance of the head after the engagement, the finger is swung clockwise while the pin is sliding along the extension as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6. After continued backward swinging of the lfinger shortly beyond the position shown in phantom in FIG. 6 determined by the length of the unwound thread, the thread slides off from the end of the finger and is thus released as shown in phantom in FIG. 7. Shortly thereafter and by the continued backward swinging of the ringer, the pin 77 rides off from the end of the extension thus allowing the linger to be swung counterclockwise toward its stop 75 and come into engagement and pick up the thread of the next bobbin for repeating the separating operation thereon.

Thread tension sensor Shortly after the unwound thread of each successive bobbin is engaged by the linger 69, it is also engaged by the feeler 78 of a device 79 (FIGS. 3, 7 and 8) which operates later to sense a predetermined tensioning of the thread and, in response thereto, to cause the turning of the bobbin in the winding direction to be interrupted after the traveler has become positioned by such turning. In the present instance, the feeler comprises a bail pivotally suspended from pivot bearings 81 and having a free edge surface 83 which extends along the traveling head for engagement of its downwardly and backwardly inclined leading end portion 82 with each unwound bobbin thread at a point between the drafting rolls 31 and the associated thread eye 18.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the bail comprises a generally rectangular closed loop of wire with one side journaled in bearings 81 in horizontally spaced arms projecting toward the drafting rolls from a housing 87 rigid with the bracket l64 near the upper edge thereof. The pivot parallels the motion of the traveling head and is spaced horizontally to dispose the inclined and straight free edges 82 and 83 of the bail above the thread eyes 18 and below the drafting rolls and for engagement with and depression of the intervening length of the unwound thread of each bobbin which the bail passes. A contractile spring 84 acting between an extension 84a on the bail and an anchor 84h on the housing 87 urges the bail counterclockwise and to a normal position (FIG. 7) in which an arm 85 on the bail is stopped by engagement of the free end of an arm 86 bearing against the bottom on the housing 87. The arm 86 is rigid with the shaft 88 projecting from the casing of a switch 89 and urged by means within the casing from the switch-closed position (FIG. 7) toward the switch-open position (FIG. 8).

With the feeler or bail in normal position (FIGS. 1 and 7), the leading inclined surface 82 engages each successive thread shortly after engagement of the thread by the `linger 69. As the head continues to advance, the thread between the eye 18 and the drafting rolls is bent downwardly progressively as it rides along the full length of the incline and then onto the straight portion 82 of the bail which maintains the bent condition of the thread as the advance of the head continues.

After completion of the traveler positioning as later described, the thread between the bobbin and the drafting rolls becomes tensioned to a predetermined degree, the bail is swung clockwise against the force of the spring 84 as shown in FIG. 8 so as to raise the arm 85 and allow the switch arm 86 to swing upwardly and open the normally closed switch 89. The thread continues to remain bent downwardly until the trailing end of the straight side 83 of the bail passes by.

Rotating bobbin to unwind additional thread The advance of the head 10 is also used to control the further conditioning of each bobbin thread 13 for enabling the tension sensor 79 to terminate the traveler positioning operation, such conditioning being effected by turning the bobbin in the unwinding direction to increase by a limited amount the length of the unwound thread between the traveler and the drafting rolls. Herein such Unwinding is effected by applying a friction torque to the thread mass 19 preferably at the greatest diameter thereof and of suicient magnitude to overcome the friction between the then stationary driving belt 24 and the whorl 25 of the spindle. This is accomplished by a member 91 spaced along the head behind the linger 469 and mounted on the bracket 64 to engage the thread mass of each bobbin and turn the bobbin counterclockwise in the continued advance of the head. Preferably the turning member is a cylindrical roll nearly as long as the cylindrical part of the thread mass and having a yieldable surface of rubber or the like. Trunnions 92 projecting from opposite ends of the roll are journaled in the spaced arms of a yoke 93 fulcrumed at its other end on an upright shaft 94 journaled in lugs on the bracket 64. Torsion springs 95 encircling the shaft and anchored at 96 urge the yoke counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6 toward the plane of the bobbins and to a position determined by a stop 97 which thus controls the duration of the engagement between the roll and each successive bobbin which it passes.

The roll 91 is driven continuously from the motor driven shaft 42 and at a speed such that during engagement of the roll with each successive thread mass 19 of conventional diameter, the bobbin will be turned through at least a half revolution and usually no more than a full revolution. The drive is from the motor driven shaft 42 through gearing 97 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to an upright shaft 98 mounted on the head 10. From a sprocket on this shaft and through an endless chain 99, the drive is extended along the head in the direction of advance thereof to a sprocket on a tubular shaft 101 (FIGS. 3 and 4) journaled on an upright shaft 102 on the bracket. Through gears 103 and a chain 104 the drive extends to the shaft 94 (FIGS. 3 and 6) which is coupled to a sprocket on the roll shaft through a chain 105. Thus, the roll is rotated clockwise (FIG. 6) in all angular positions of the yoke 93 and, during its engagement with a thread mass 19, turns the bobbin thereof counterclockwise thus causing a corresponding length of thread to be unwound from the base bunch 21.

Unwinding 0f the desired thread length is achieved by correlating the speed and diameter of the roll 91 with the diameter of the thread masses and the rate of advance of the head 10. The roll is spaced along the bracket behind the linger 69 so as to time properly the engagement and disengagement of the thread by the finger with the engagement of the roll with the bobbin.

Condition of thread after unwinding In the twisting of the thread as an incident to the spinning, the thread becomes quite elastic and tends to contract when released from the linger 69. Short lengths of the thread may become bent onto each other and twisted together as illustrated at 106 in FIG. 7, these twists and a substantial length of the thread as shown in dot-dash outline springing back into contact with the mass 19. We have discovered that the friction resulting from such contact combined with the friction between the thread and its traveler at the sharp bend 107 (FIG. 7) is substantially greater than the friction between the traveler 14 and its supporting ring 15 so that the traveler will be drawn around the ring in response to turning of the bobbin in the clockwise or winding direction (FIGS. 7 and 8). Based on this discovery, the present invention contemplates turning of each bobbin, after conditioning of the thread as above described, until its traveler, no matter what position it was left in at the termination of the spinning, reaches the desired position x ahead of the associated spindle. During such turning, the thread is in engagement with the side 83 of the bail 78 above described which takes up most of the slack in the thread above the thread eye. At this time the bail is in the limit position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 and does not influence the desired reformation of the loose thread.

Bobbin turning for traveler positioning With the unwound thread of each bobbin conditioned as above described, the travelers of the successive bobbins are swung around their supporting rings 15 and stopped 7 in the desired identical positions x. As generally described above, this is effected by turning the bobbin in the winding direction until its traveler comes against the stop 17 and then interrupting the winding before the unwound thread becomes tensioned to the point of possible rupture. While such turning may be effected in various ways, it is preferred to employ a friction roll 108 (FIGS. l, 2, 3, 7 and 8) engageable with the thread mass 19 of each bobbin for a period terminated by the development of a predetermined tension, measured by the sensor 79 above described, in the thread as a result of the traveler being1 stopped at the desired position x.

Preferably the roll 108 is of the same construction and mounted in the same way as the unwinding roll 91 above described for engagement with a substantial length of the thread mass of each bobbin it passes. Thus, the ends of the roll shaft 109 are journaled in spaced arms of a yoke 110 loose on the upright shaft 102 and urged by a spring 112 toward a stop 114 adjustable to determine the time of initial contact between the roll and the thread mass of each successive bobbin. An endless chain 113 meshing with sprockets on the roll shaft 109 and the shaft 102 drives the roll counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8 during corresponding rotation of the shaft 102. The latter is journaled in bearings 115 (FIG. 4) in the bracket and is coupled to the tubular drive shaft 101 above described through the medium of a clutch 116 which is engaged and disengaged while the switch 89 is closed and open respectively.

The stop 114 is adjusted to provide the time of engagement of the roll with each thread mass which will insure picking up the traveler and dragging the same around its supporting ring to the position x and this, in spite of a possible temporary reduction in the friction forces acting on the unwound thread as above described and at the time the turning is started. Preferably, the arrangement is such that the bobbin could, if necessary, be turned through about three revolutions if the thread conditions are such that the traveler does not reach the position x and cause disengagement of the clutch 116 in the normal way.

Preferably the clutch is of the friction type and actuated magnetically. For this purpose, an armature disk 117 (FIG. 4) loosely splined on the drive shaft 101 is, upon energization of an annular winding 118, drawn into axial gripping engagement with the friction face of a rotor 119 fixed to the driven shaft 102. Concentric pole pieces of the rotor telescope with the inner and outer pole pieces of an annular magnetic core 121 enclosing the winding and cooperating with the rotor and armature to form a toroidal flux path 122 encircling the winding. The f latter is included in a circuit (not shown) in series with the switch 89 by which the clutch is energized while the switch is closed and deenergized while the switch is open.

At the time when the rotating roll 108 contacts a thread mass 19, the unwound thread between the drafting rolls and the traveler is free of the nger 69, is engaging the surface 83 of the bail 78, and, while it is considerably longer than the spacing of the traveler and drafting rolls, is contracted by the twists 106 (FIG. 7) as above described so as to lie against and usually around the thread mass. Because the friction thus exerted on the unwound thread is greater than that between the traveler and its supporting ring, the initial turning of the bobbin in the winding direction will not normally result in winding of any of the thread back onto the base bunch 21. Instead,

the friction between the traveler and its ring will be overcome easily and the traveler will be drawn clockwise around the ring until it reaches and is stopped as later described in the desired position x. Thereafter, the continued turning results in winding some of the loose thread onto the base bunch until the turning is interrupted by disengagement of the clutch 116.

Under certain abnormal conditions, the friction between the traveler and its ring may, at the start of the bobbin turning, be greater than the friction on the unwound thread. In such a case, winding of some thread back onto the base bunch will start immediately and will continue until the accompanying change in contact between the unwound thread and the mass 19 will develop enough friction to overcome the resistance to shifting of the traveler. This will always occur well within the three revolutions of the bobbin allowed for as above described.

Traveler stop and positioning thereof The stops 17 above referred to fo-r interrupting the movement of the travelers around their rings 15 when reaching the positions x during turning of the bobbins by the roll 108 are mounted on the bracket 64 and projected successively therefrom into active positions (FIGS. 7 and 8) ahead of the successive bobbins. This position of each stop relative to the stationary bobbin is retained during the continued advance of the head 10 and until some time after the traveler has been turned to the position x. Finally, the stop is retracted and prepared for later use on the travelers of bobbins subsequently passed by the head.

To the foregoing ends, the stops are supported by and spaced along an endless horizontal carrier 22 (FIGS. l, 2 and 3) mounted on and extending along the bracket 64 and driven at the same speed as the head but in the opposite direction. Herein, the carrier is an elongated closed loop of chain 123 meshing with sprockets 124 on upright shafts 125 and 126 which are journaled in bearings 127a and 127 b on the bracket and head respectively. A second sprocket on the shaft 125 is coupled through a shorter parallel chain 128 to a sprocket on an upright shaft 129 journaled on the bracket and coupled through speed change gears 130 and a chain 131 to a sprocket on the upright shaft 98 above described. The gear and chain ratios are such that the chain 123 advances at precisely the same speed as head 10 but with the outer straight turn 12341 moving reversely of the head advance. Thus, while the chain loop is being carried bodily past any one bobbin, any point on the outer run remains xed relative to such bobbin. The run 123a is straight and extends along the row of bobbins adjacent and somewhat above the level of the travelers.

Twelve stops 17 (FIGS. 2, 3, 7-11) are carried by the chain 123 in the present instance, these being spaced apart distances equal to the pitch of the frame spindles. Herein each stop comprises a V-shaped hook 133 one leg of which is rigid with and constitutes an extension of the outer end of a wire arm 134 projecting outwardly from the chain, the other leg 132 of the V being disposed at somewhat less than a right angle relative to the arm. The inner end of the arm 134 is welded to the free end of a bar 135 fulcrumed on an upright pin 136 depending from an outwardly projecting lug of a plate 137 which is afxed to the under side of the chain by the pivot pins of one link. A torsion spring 138 urges the bar 135 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 11 and normally holds the bar against a stop 139 on the plate. In this position, the arm 134 is perpendicular to the chain and the opening of the hook 133 faces in the direction of the chain advance indicated by the arrows in the several gures.

The arms 134 are disposed in a plane just above the level of the travelers and are long enough to project just beyond the plane of the spindle axes when the arm is on the run 123b of the chain. When the arm is disposed on the opposite straight run 1231; of the chain, the hooked end is swung backwardly as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7-10 by virtue of the engagement of the end 141 of the hook with an upright plate 142 fixed to the bracket and lying alongside the run 123b throughout the full length of the latter.

Each arm passes the plate 142 when reaching the leading end of the chain loop and the plate end 143 (FIG. 10) and swings back to the perpendicular position against its stop 139. In passing around the leading sprocket and arriving at the end of the straight chain run 123g, the arm is swung toward the bobbins and into active position (FIGS. 2, 7 and 10) just ahead of the bobbin whose traveler is next to be positioned by turning by the roll 108. In this position, the free leg 132 of the hook is disposed slightly above and projects across the traveler ring 15. The hook is thus positioned to receive and intercept the thread 13 of the bobbin as the traveler thereof is swung clockwise around the ring as above described and reaches the position x as shown in FIG. 8.

The stop dwells in this thread intercepting position for several pitch cycles after the traveler has reached the position x. As the stop approaches the trailing end of the chain run 123e, it is retracted in a manner such as not t0 disturb the traveler position. For this purpose, the arm 134 carrying the stop hook is swung relative to the chain and against the spring force counterclockwise between the positions shown in phantom and full in FIG. 9, the free end portion of the hook thus moving reversely of the chain advance and past the thread without changing the thread position,

The advance of the head is preferably utilized to effect such retraction of the stop and release of the thread therefrom. This is accomplished by a stop in the form of an upright rod 144 (FIGS. 3 and 9) suspended from a projection 145 on the bracket and a universal, preferably ball type, joint 146. A contractile spring 147 stretched between the upper end of the rod above the joint and an anchor 148 on 'the bracket normally holds the rod in the vertical position. In this position, the lower end portion of the rod is disposed in the path of each of the stop arms 134 approaching the trailing end of the chain loop, the initial engagement midway between the ends of the arm. Then, as the arm continues to advance with the chain, the vertical position of the rod is maintained by the spring 147 causing the arm to be swung counterclockwise carrying the hook 133 thereof backwardly and laterally around and away from the thread. The spring 138 of the arm yields to permit such reverse swinging.

In the continued advance of tne chain relative to the head, the point of contact of the arm with the rod moves outwardly along the arm, the hook 133 eventually engaging the rod in the straddled relation shown in FIG. 9 with the arm projecting along the chain run 123:1 and opposite to the chain advance. At this time, the arm supporting plate 135 will have advanced part way around the trailing end of the chain loop as shown in full in FIG. 9.

Overall operation As the head 10 travels along the row of units of the spinning frame, the unwinding roll 91 and the stop carrying chain 123 are driven continuously, and the linger 69, the bail 78, the roll 91, the roll 108, and the stop bar 144 come into play successively as the head passes each spinning unit, the timing of the various motions being shown in the chart (FIG. I3) which includes several cycles each corresponding to one revolution of the drive pinion 36 during which the head is advanced one spindle pitch.

Thread separation-Assuming that in the advance of the head, the linger 69 is disposed in normal position against its stop 75 and is approaching the unwound thread 13, shown in phantom in FIG. 5, of the next bobbin whose traveler is to be positioned. At this time, the bail 78 is held by its spring in upright position (FIGS. l, 3 and 7) against its stop, the switch 89 thus being closed and the clutch engaged to drive the roll 108.

As the head advance continues, the upstanding pin 77 on the linger comes against the thread eye extension 47 at 10c (FIG. 14) and shown in dot-dash outline in FIG. 5 thus starting clockwise swinging of the nger as the pin rides out along the extension. When the pin passes the extension at 11c the linger is swung forwardly by its spring 74 to the full line position, the thread 13 being picked up in the dot-dash position by the linger and bent forwardly to the full line position. The thread is bent further as the head advance continues the spring yielding under the developed thread tension causing the linger to swing clockwise and the thread to slide out along the guide 74. Beyond the perpendicular position shown in full in FIG. 6, the linger becomes inclined rearwardly as shown in phantom, thus allowing the taut thread to slide toward the end of the linger from which it is released at a point along the time line 12 as determined by the amount of initial slack in the unwound thread. Such release always occurs after the pin 77 on the linger encounters the thread eye extension 47 at 13c of the next bobbin.

Shortly after the linger picks up the thread and at about 14, the thread is engaged above its thread eye by the leading and downwardly and rearwardly inclined end 82 of the bail 78 then held by its spring 84 in normal upright position. As the head advance continues, the thread between the thread eyes and the drafting rolls is bent downward progressively until the straight part 83 of the bail reaches the thread. The bail remains in upright position to hold the switch 89 closed.

Unwndng thread frOm bobbin.-With the thread 13 separated and freed from the main mass 19 but held on the linger 69, the bobbin is turned by the then rotating roll 91 starting at 1Sc by engagement of the roll with the thread mass as shown in FIG. 6y and continuing for at least a half revolution of the bobbin. The turning is counterclockwise so that a corresponding length of thread is unwound from the base bunch 21,

Shortly after the roll 91 passes out of engagement with the thread mass at 16c to interrupt the unwinding, the linger 69 has been swung backwardly far enough by the thread eye extension 47 as shown in phantom in FIG. 7, to cause the thread to slide off from the end of the linger at 17. When the pin 77, by continued backward swinging, passes the end of the eye extension at 18C, the linger swings counterclockwise and picks up the thread of the next bobbin.

Positioning traveler st0p.-While the bobbin is being turned by the roll 91, the arm 134 carrying the stop hook 133 to be used in the traveler positioning is moving clockwise around the leading end of the chain loop 123 as indicated at 19. The arm, having passed out of engagement with the back plate 142, becomes held by its spring 138 perpendicular to the chain as shown in dot-dash outline in FIG. l0. As the chain advance continues, the stop hook traverses an arcuate path relative to the head indicated by the arrows, is moved outwardly ahead of the bobbin and presented at 20c to the linal stopping position (FIGS. 7 and 8) with ythe end portion 132 of the hook projecting backwardly. Because of its inclination, this part of the hook will, if the traveler and its thread happen to have stopped in the position x, engage the thread just above the traveler and cam the thread and traveler clockwise a short distance out of the position x. In this new position, substantially a full revolution of clockwise travel around the ring 15 will be required in order to bring the traveler back to the position x. Because the stop 17 travels backwardly relative to the head at the same speed as the head advance, it remains lixed relative to the bobbin while the stop is disposed on the straight run 123a of the chain.

Traveler positioning- After the thread 13 including the newly unwound length is released from the end of the linger at 17C, the thread, due to its resiliency, contracts as illustrated in FIG. 7 and, as above described, grips the main mass to provide friction enough to normally insure swinging of the traveler around its ring 15 instead of winding thread back onto 4the base bunch in the initial clockwise turning of the bobbin by the roll 108. Turning of the bobbin by this roll starts at 21c and continues for a time determined by the counterclockwise angular spacing of the traveler around its ring 15 and away from -the position x. For example, with the traveler disposed in the position shown in phantom in FIG. 7, the traveler would be swung clockwise more than a half revolution and through the position shown in full. If the traveler is spaced counterclockwise from but close to the hook, the traveler will swing through only a short arc before reaching the stop 17. A maximum swing of one revolution would be required when the traveler is disposed clockwise from but adjacent the stop.

When the traveler and thread extending upwardly therefrom to the thread eye reach the position x as shown in FIG. 8, the traveler is stopped by virtue of the engagement of the thread with the end portion 135 of the hook 133. Then, as the turning of the bobbin by the roll 108 continues, rewinding of the thread back onto the base bunch 21 is initiated as permitted by the slack introduced by the unwinding above described. As this slack is taken up and the thread becomes taut, the resulting tension is applied to the part 83 of the bail thus starting clockwise swinging of the latter from the normal position (FIG. 7) and against the action of the spring 84. As a result, the bail arm `85 is lifted as shown in FIG. 8 thus allowing the switch arm 86 to swing upwardly and open the switch 89 and therefore the circuit to disengage the clutch 116. Turning of the roll 108 is thus interrupted thereby avoiding further tensioning of the thread during the remaining engagement of the roll and the thread mass. The thread is thus protected against breakage.

Reaction of traveler stop-In certain automatic bobbin doffers and donners of the traveling head type in which the present may be used to advantage, it is desirable to delay the reaction of the stop hook 133 out of its traveler stopping position until after the filled bobbin has been doffed from its spindle and an empty replacement bobbin 23 (see FIG, 2) has been donned thereon. In such a case, the supply thread 13, which extends to the base bunch 21 during positioning of the traveler and before the doffing. then extends from the traveler to the base of the spindle where it terminates and becomes pinched between such base and the butt of the bobbin. Mechanism for effecting such automatic doing and donning forms the subject matter of an application by Richard D. Livingston, Ser. No. 593,536, filed Nov. 10, 1966.

The stop 17 remains in the traveler stopping position until it approaches the trailing end of the chain run 123a and its arm 134 encounters the stop rod 144 which occurs when the arm reaches the position shown in phantom in FIG. 9. As the arm advance with the chain continues, the arm is swung counterclockwise by the rod thus retracting the end portion 132 of the hook longitudinally of the head advance and across and past the thread without disturbing the traveler position. Eventually the rod 144 becomes seated in `the hook 133 as shown in full. Then, in the continued advance of the chain, the hook tips the rod upwardly and backwardly thus raising the lower end to allow the hook to pass beneath.

As soon as the hook is thus freed, the arm 134 is swung clockwise by its spring 138 until the hook end 141 cornes against a cushion 151 as shown in FIG. 9. Finally, as the hook encounters and rides along the plate 142, the arm 134 is swung counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 9 to the dot-dash position in which it is held by the plate while traversing the inner run 123b of the chain. The stop 17 then traverses the straight run 12317 of the chain and, after rounding the leading end of the loop, is again presented to another spinning unit down the row for use in stopping the traveler thereof in the position x.

Modified travelers stops 12 the shank 156 of the hook 133. At the other end, the spring receives and is secured to an L-shaped wire 157 whose upstanding arm is made rigid with one link of the chain 123. By virtue of its stiffness, each spring, when free and disposed along the chain run 123er, assumes a straight condition and is inclined forwardly from the chain to the position shown in FIG. l2`` where it remains while on the chain run 12351. Each hook reaches the stopped and traveler locating position (FIG. l2) when, after riding down a curved incline 158, drops olf from the end 159 of the incline just as the anchor end 157 of the spring arm reaches the straight run 123er of the chain. The incline is on the upper edge of a plate concentric with the leading chain sprocket.

As before, the hook 133 remains in the stop position relative to the traveler ring 15 and operates in the manner above described to intercept the bobbin thread and stop the traveler 14 thereof in the position x. In approaching the trailing end of the chain loop, the spring arm encounters a bar 161 rigid with and depending from an arm 162 on the head and utilizing the advance of the head 10 to bend the arm and swing the hook 133 thereon backwardly and around the intercepted thread and then toward and under the chain as shown in phantom in FIG. 12. The leading face 163 of the bar converges toward the chain and after being engaged by the end 141 of the hook, cams the hook toward the chain thus allowing it to pass by the bar.

After being thus freed, the spring arm straightens and so .remains until the free leg of the hook encounters and rides up an incline 164 of a track 165 secured to the head and extending along the straight run 123b of the chain. ln advancing with this chain run, each hook 133 rides along the top of the track and onto an upward incline 166 from which it passes beyond the leading end of the chain loop onto the downwardly sloping edge 158- above referred to.

In the modied form of stop shown in FIG. 13, the shifting of each traveler 14 around its ring 15 is interrupted by wedging the traveler against the side this ring when it reaches the position x. For this purpose, flat arms 167 of spring material are secured cantilever fashion to the chain 123 and spaced therealong the same as in the forms described above. The inner end of each arm is secured to a bracket 168 which in turn is fastened rigidly to the under side of the chain so as to adapt.- the 'arm for horizontal flexing in the plane of the ring 15. Each arrn is long enough to project beyond the desired traveler position x and, after being carried around the leading end of the chain loop, to come against the traveler ring as shown as its mounting 168 comes onto the straight run 123e. For the reasons mentioned above, the arm remains in this position until approaching the other end of the chain loop when it is bent backwardly and allowed to pass the ring 15 by engagement with a suitable stop such as the rod 144 or the bar 161 above described.

When the arm is positioned as shown in FIG. 13, and forms with the opposed side of the traveler ring 15 a V- shaped pocket in which a traveler 14 being moved clockwise around the ring 15 as from the phantom position shown becomes seated when arriving at the position x dened by the convergence of the opposed surfaces of the arm and the ring 15. The traveler is thus located and held in this position until, long after stopping of the bobbin turning, the stop arm is backed away frorn the ring and traveler and allowed to pass by the ring as above described.

The mechanisms above described for relocating the traveler ends of the unwound bobbin threads may also be used with S-twist bobbins. For such use, the head 10 would be arranged for travel from left to right along the spinning frame and corresponding changes would be made in the mountings and motions of other parts.

We claim as our invention:

1. The method of relocating a traveler in a predetermined position around its supporting ring and a filled bobbin on a spindle of spinning frame in which an unwound thread portion extends from the delivery rolls through the traveler to the filled bobbin, including the steps of, turning said spindle and said bobbin' about the spindle axis to swing the unwound thread and therefore the traveler around said ring, and interrupting the movement of the traveler when it reaches said predetermined position around the ring.

2. The method defined in claim 1 including the steps of turning said spindle and bobbin in a direction to unwind part of the thread from the base bunch of the bobbin and then reversing the turning to swing the traveler and unwound thread around the traveler ring.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 including the preliminary step of bending the unwound bobbin thread between the traveler and the associated thread eye laterally relative to the bobbin to thereby separate such thread from the thread mass wound on the bobbin.

4. The method as defined in claim 2 in which the turning of the bobbin in the winding direction is interrupted in response to the development, after arrival of the traveler in said predetermined position, of a predetermined tension in the unwound thread extending from the bobbin base bunch through the traveler and thread eye to the associated drafting rolls.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 which includes, prior to turning the bobbin, the step of interposing a stop at said predetermined position and in the path of the unwound thread between said traveler and the associated thread eye while the bobbin is being rotated in the winding direction.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 in which the turning of said bobbin is effected by applying a friction torque to the thread mass on the bobbin.

7. The method of relocating the traveler of a filled bobbin of a spinning frame in which an unwound thread portion extends from the delivery rolls through the traveler to the filled bobbin in a predetermined angular position around the traveler supporting ring, said method including the steps of (a) separating the unwound thread of the bobbin laterally from the thread mass thereof,

(b) then, while the thread is held so separated, turning the bobbin in a direction to unwind part of the thread off the base bunch of the bobbin,

(c) next, reversing the turning of the bobbin to cause turning of the traveler thereof around its supporting ring,

(d) interrupting the movement of the traveler as it reaches said predetermined position, and

(e) thereafter interrupting the rewinding of thread on the bobbin while leaving the traveler thereof in said predetermined position.

S. The method of relocating the travelers of successive filled bobbins along a spinning frame in identical positions around their respective supporting rings, said method including advancing a head continuously along said frame in front of and past the successive bobbins thereof, and, as said head passes by each successive bobbin, performing the steps (a) through (e) as defined in claim 7.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 in which the stopped position of each traveler around its supporting ring is disposed beyond the bobbin in the direction of travel of said head.

10. For locating in corresponding positions relative to their supporting rings the travelers guiding the supply threads of the filled bobbins on successive spindles along a spinning frame, the combination of, a head mounted on and power driven at a uniform rate and continuously along said frame. mechanism carried by and actuated in synchronism with the advance of said head and operable in passing each successive spinning unit on said frame to engage and turn the bobbin thereof and, by swinging the thread extending through the traveler around the bobbin axis, and move such traveler around its supporting ring toward a predetermined position ahead of the spindle in the direction of advance of the head, and stops movable with said mechanism and relative to said head and acting to interrupt such movement of each traveler in said predetermined position.

11` The combination defined in claim 10 in which the predetermined positions of the travelers as determined by said stops are between adjacent spindle units each beyond its associated bobbin in the direction of the head advance.

12. The combination as defined in claim 10 in which said stops are mounted on said head for movement relative thereto transversely of the spinning frame and into active positions for interrupting the movement of each traveler when it reaches said predetermined position, and mechanism on said head operated in timed relation to the advance thereof to -move each stop into said active position prior to the arrival of the corresponding traveler to said predetermined position.

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 in which each of said stops, when in said active position, is engageable with the supply thread of the bobbin at a point above the associated traveler and its supporting ring.

14. The combination defined in claim 12 in which each of said stops is an arrn mounted on and projecting from said head and including means mounted on the head and operating in timed relation to the advance of the head to locate the arm in active stop position relative to a traveler and then move the arm along the head at the same speed as, but in the direction opposite to the head advance.

15. The combination as defined in claim 14 in which said arm is directly engageable with the traveler and, when in active stop position, bears against the side of the traveler ring'and forms therewith a pocket for trapping the traveler in said predetermined position.

16. The combination as defined in claim 14 including means on said head pivotally supporting said stop arm for swinging backwardly relative to said head and the advance thereof to retract the arm out of engagement with the stopped bobbin thread and spring means urging said arm reversely relative to the head to normally maintain the arm in thread-intercepting position.

17. The combination defined in claim 16 including means positioned on said head to intercept said arm after positioning of a traveler and acting in the continued advance of the head to swing the arm backwardly toward said head and away from the intercepted thread.

18. The combination as defined in claim 14 including a lateral extension of said arm operable to engage and intercept the supply thread of the bobbins during repositioning of the traveler around its ring, said lateral extension projecting across said ring and acting to trap the thread between the extension and the arm.

19. The combination defined in claim 18 in which said stop arm includes intermediate its ends an elongated resilient and laterally flexible member.

20. The combination defined in claim 12 in which said stops are on an endless carrier mounted on said head and having one run extending along the head adjacent and parallel to the row of bobbins passed by the head, and power driven means on said head actuating said carrier to move said straight run in a direction opposite to the head advance and at the same linear speed as the head.

21. The combination defined in claim 20 in which said carrier is an endless and elongated loop of chain and the stop means for positioning each traveler is an arm projecting cantilever fashion and outwardly from the chain, and means supporting the chain on said head in a position such that the arm is Ibrought to active thread stopping position in traveling around the leading end of the chain loop and coming onto the leading end of said straight run.

22. The combination defined in claim 21 including separate stop arms projecting laterally and outwardly from said chain and spaced apart along the latter distances precisely equal to the pitch of the spindles of Said frame so that, in rounding the leading end of said chain loop, the successive arms are moved into active stop positions relative to successive units of the spinning frame.

23. The combination as defined in claim 10 in which the repositioning of each traveler against the corresponding one of said stops is effected by a member carried by said head into frictional engagement with the thread mass of each successive bobbin, and means on said head driving said member relative to the head during such engagement and in a direction to turn the bobbin in the winding direction and thereby drive the traveler around its supporting ring.

24. The combination defined in claim 23 in which said bobbin turning member comprises a roll journaled on said head to turn about an upright axis and urged yieldably to a position for engaging the thread mass of each bobbin during the advance of the head, and power actuated means carried by said head driving said roll and the bobbin engaged thereby in the winding direction.

25. The combination defined in claim 24 in which the drive to said roll isthrough a clutch and including means operable automatically shortly after the arrival of each traveler in said predetermined position to cause disengagement of said clutch.

26. The combination defined in claim 25 includingv means for sensing an increase to a predetermined value in the tension of the unwound bobbin thread during turning of the bobbin after stopping of the traveler by the stop, and means for disengaging said clutch when the thread tension increases to said predetermined value.

27. The combination as dened in claim 24 in which the drive to said roll is through a connection disengageable to interrupt the turning of the roll, a feeler mounted on said head and yieldably urged to a normal position for engaging the unwound thread of each successive bobbin during the repositioning of the traveler by said roll, said feeler being moved out of said normal position in response to the development of a predetermined tension in said thread, and means controlled by the position of said feeler and maintaining said drive connection when the feeler is in said normal position and interrupting the connection when the feeler is moved in response to an increase in thread tension.

28. The combination as defined in claim 27 in which said feeler in said normal position engages and bends downwardly the thread lbetween the drafting rolls and a thread eye of the spinning unit.

29. The combination as defined in claim 27 in which said drive connection is interrupted at a tension well below the tensile strength of the bobbin thread.

30. In apparatus for relocating the travelers of successive filled bobbins along a spinning frame in which an unwound thread portion extends from the delivery rolls through the traveler to the filled bobbin, the combination of, a head mounted on and power driven along the ring rail of said frame past said bobbins, a finger projecting from said head toward said frame and to a position to pick up the unwound thread of each successive bobbin between the traveler and thread eye thereof and bend such. thread forwardly in the direction of the head advance, means on said head pivotally mounting said finger cantilever fashion to yield and swing backwardly in response to an increase in the tension of the engaged thread within the tensile strength thereof, and a plurality of members spaced along said frame in association with the respective spinning units and operable to effect release of each picked up thread from said finger after movement of the head to a predetermined point following engagement of such thread.

31. The subcombination defined in claim 30 in which each of the thread releasing members comprises a part fixed to said spinning frame in a position to engage said finger intermediate its ends and block the advance of the finger so as to cause backward swinging of the finger until the free end of the finger rides off from such part.

32. The combination as defined in claim 31 in which said part is an outwardly projecting extension of the thread eye of the spinning unit.

33.-- The combination defined in claim 30 including means mounted on said head and operable while passing each successive bobbin and while the thread is held'y by said finger to engage the thread mass thereof and apply a friction torque thereto for causing a limited amount of turning of the bobbin in a direction to unwind a short length of thread from the base bunch of the bobbin.'

34. The combination defined in claim 33 in which said unwinding means comprises an upright roll,journaled ori said head and power driven in a direction to turn each bobbin engaged thereby in the unwinding direction, and means on said head supporting said roll and urging the same yieldably into a normal position for engaging' the thread mass of each successive bobbin for a limited time.

35. Forlocating in corresponding positions relative to their supporting rings the travelers of the filled bobbins on successive spindles along a spinning frame in which an unwound thread portion extends from the delivery rolls to the filled bobbin, the combination of, a head mounted on and power driven at a uniform rate along the ring rail of said frame, three successively acting mechanisms on said head operable automatically during the advance of the head past each successive bobbin to first engage the unwound thread of each bobbin and bend the same forwardly to separate the thread from the main` thread mass of the bobbin7 secondly, to engage and apply to each bobbin a friction torque for limited turning of the bobbin a direction to unwind a short length of thread from the base bunch thereof, and thirdly to engage and apply to each bobbin a friction torque in the opposite direction, and, through the resulting turning of the bobbin, cause said` unwound thread portion lto draw the traveler thereof around its supporting ring in the direction of'advance of said head and to a position ahead of the bobbin. Y

36. The combination defined in claim 35 in which said first mechanismuremains in engagement with the unwound thread of each bobbin-until after the unwinding by the second mechanism and then releases the thread before starting turning of the bobbin in the winding direction.

37. The combination'as defined in claim 36 including means for interrupting the turning of each bobbin in the winding direction in response to the arrival of the traveler thereof in a predetermined position.

38. The combination as defined in claim 35 including a stop acting to limit the turning of each bobbin traveler around its supporting ring during turning of the bobbin in the winding direction and means for interrupting the turning of the bobbin in the unwinding 'direction in response to a predetermined build-up in the tension of the unwound thread after stopping of the traveler.

39. For locating in corresponding positions relative '-to their supporting rings the travelers of the filled bobbins on successive spindles along a spinning frame in which an'unwound thread portion extends froml the delivery rolls to the filled bobbin, the combination of, a head mounted on and power driven at a uniform rate along the ring rail of said frame, mechanism on said head acting automatically in the advance thereof to engage and apply to the thread mass of each successive bobbin a friction torque acting in the winding direction to turn the bobbin and said unwound thread portion around` the spindle axis and thereby' cause such thread portion to draw the associated traveler around its supporting ring, and a stop carried by said head and movable in timed relation to the advance thereof into a position to interrupt the turning of said traveler by'the unwound thread when the' traveler reaches a` predetermined position on the leading side of the bobbin.

40. The combination defined in claim 39 in which said stop is positioned above and adjacent the path of the traveler to engage said unwound thread portion and'there- 17 18 by interrupt the turning of the traveler in said predeter- 3,300,962 1/ 1967 Haagsma 57-54 mined position. 3,373,551 3/ 1968 Gillono et al 57-34 41. The combination defined in clairn 39 including 3,374,616 3/ 1968 Hidden et al. 57-53 means operable in response to tensioning of said unwound 3,403,866 10/ 1968 Bell et al 57-53X thread portion after stopping of the traveler to interrupt the turning of the bobbin. FOREIGN PATENTS 35/8,124 6/1960 Japan 57--34 References Cited 39/12,866 7/1964 Japan 57-34 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,128,590 4/1964 Escurseu-Prat 57-34 1o JOHN PETRAKES Pflmafy Exammef 3,300,960 1/1967 Banks et al. 57-53 U.S. C1. X.R.

3,300,961 1/1967 Jones, Sr., et al 57-54 57-53, 54, 156 

